authenticate

1 of 2

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt 

ȯ-

authenticated; authenticating

transitive verb

: to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine

authenticate a document

authenticator

ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkā-tər 

ȯ-

noun

authenticator

2 of 2

noun

au·​then·​ti·​ca·​tor ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkā-tər 

ȯ-

plural -s

: one that authenticates

Synonyms of authenticate

Verb

• certify
• guarantee
• affirm
• attest
• testify (to)

Choose the Right Synonym for authenticate

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something.

confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at.

all statements of fact in the article have been verified

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

Examples of authenticate in a Sentence

Verb

The signature has been authenticated.

a jeweler authenticated the diamond as real

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Silver coins are typically easier to sell and authenticate because they are produced by government mints, while silver bars often carry lower premiums and can be a more cost-effective option for larger purchases. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 24 June 2026

Everything is authenticated through their hub. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026

Valued at up to $17 million, the painting has not yet been publicly identified but is reported by French newspaper Le Parisien to have been authenticated as belonging to a 1937 series of portraits the artist made of his French model and lover Marie-Thérèse Walter. — News Desk, Artforum, 22 June 2026

The definition of sports memorabilia has expanded in recent years alongside a boom in collecting and the support of companies like The Realest, which has developed an expertise in authenticating off-beat items, from Lincoln Financial Field snow to a Ryder Cup rake. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Medieval Latin authenticātus, past participle of authenticāre "to stamp as genuine or authoritative," derivative of Latin authenticus "original (of documents)" — more at authentic

Note: Compare as a secondary source Middle French autentiquer "to guarantee that something conforms to a norm."

First Known Use

Verb

1613, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1778, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for authenticate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

authenticate

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthent-i-ˌkāt 

ȯ-

authenticated; authenticating

: to prove or serve to prove that something is authentic

authentication

-ˌthent-i-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

authenticate

transitive verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate

authenticated; authenticating

1

: to prove or serve to prove that (something) is genuine

especially : to prove that (an item of evidence) is genuine for the purpose of establishing admissibility

2

: to make (a written instrument) valid and effective by marking especially with one's signature

authenticate a check